Wagon.



J. G. & J. J. RAUM.

WAGON. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1912.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

2 BHEETB-SHEET 1. a & E)

WITNESSES Attorneys J. G. & J. J. RAUM.

WAGON. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1912. 1 ,O83,03 1 Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

v Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Egg. 3. 2

WITNESSES 1N VEN T ORS V I Attorneys! COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0-,WASHING10N, D. C.

I v 1 l JOHN G. RAUM AND JOHN J. RAUM, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

WAGON.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN C. RAUM and JOHN J. RAUM, citizens of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagons, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to wagons, and more particularly to what are known as refrigerator wagons, such as are used for delivery of ice cream and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved wagon body so constructed that it may be employed either as an ice cream wagon, or as a wagon for hauling other kinds of goods and general merchandise.

A further object is to provide, in a wagon of this character, a practical and convenient receptacle for salt, to be used in connection with the packing of the ice cream.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved Wagon body complete, showing the ice receptacles in position therein; Fig. 2 is an end View thereof, the rear gate being omitted; Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the front compartment of the body adjacent the drivers seat; Fi 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the details of construction; and, Fig. 6 is an elevation of the improved door holding means which we employ.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the body proper is designated by the numeral 1, and is provided witha canopy top 2, supported by the usual posts 8. The side and end sills are designated by the numerals a and 5, respectively, and the usual hinged rear gate is shown at 6. At the front of our improved wagon body is provided a drivers compartment 7, separated from the main portion of the body by a partition 8. Secured to the inside of the posts 3, at each side of the body, and located at any suitable height, are arranged horizontally extending rails 9, which may be further supported by means of braces 10, extending down to the side sills. For the purpose of preventing wear, the upper surface of these rails is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 5, 1912.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

Serial No. 681,726.

preferably protected by means of a metal Strip or facing 9:

The body is provided with the usualfloor 5 and, as so far described, may be employed for the hauling of general merchandise of any kind, especially of a large or bulky nature. In order, however, that the wagon may be employed as a refrigerator wagon for delivering ice cream and the like, We provide removable ice receptacles or containers 11 adapted to fit snugly within the body proper. In the drawing three of these receptacles have been shown and they are illustrated as rectangular boxes of such size as to exactly fill the body. Any desired number of such receptacles may, however, be employed. Each receptacle is shown as provided with a pair of sloping doors 12, which are hinged as indicated at 12 to a central plate 12'. Other types of closures may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. Each of these receptacles is provided at each side with a horizontally arranged projection or rib 13, such ribs being adapted to engage and ride upon the rails 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. These ribs preferably have rounded ends, and, as shown in Fig. 5, are preferably protected by a metallic strip or facing 13. At the center of each rib there is provided a downwardly extended curved portion 13 and in the upper face of the rails 9 are formed a plurality of correspondingly saaped seats or depressions 9 into which the curved portions 13 are adapted to fit.

It will be observed that owing to the construction of the ribs 13 the receptacles 11 may he slid into the wagon, either end first, and that they may be pushed along the rails 9 until the curved portions 13 engage one of the seats 9. When such engagement takes place the receptacle will be yieldingly held against further movement and retained in definite position. This feature is particularly valuable in case only one or two receptacles are being used, since it revents them from slipping back and forth a ong the rails. It will be noted that when the ribs13 are in engagement with the rails 9 the receptacles 11 are suspended free of the floor 5*.

As a convenient method of holding the doors 12 in open position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, we provide the holders or hooks 15. These hooks are substantially Y- shaped, and comprise a central post and a '8 in the drivers compartment.

pair of divergingbranches or hooks 15 and 15". As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one of these hooks is mounted upon the plate 12 of each receptacle 11. To each door 12, at

the proper point, is pivotally attached a ring l erably the front end, a salt box or compart-- ment. -As shown in the drawings, this salt box 16 is arranged in front of the partition The box comprises a front wall 17, and a hinged top or cover 18 which, as clearly shown in Fig. 4:, is adapted to constitute the drivers seat; An inclined bottom 19 is provided in the box, and, as shown in the drawing, this bottom is highest in the middle and slopes downwardly toward each side. At each side of the salt box atthe lowest point of the inclinedfloor 19 thereof, is a discharge opening which extends through the side of the wagon body, and is provided with a closure 20. This closure may consist of a door attached to a handle 22 pivoted at 21, and sliding inside of a keeper 23. It will be ob served that this discharge door is in a position to be readily reached from the ground and is conveniently located at the side of the wagon where it will not interfere with the contents of the body. The box may be filled by opening the top 18, and the inclined bot-- tom 19 causes the salt to How downwardly toward the discharge doors. The box so located is entirely out of the way, occupying as it does, space which would otherwise be lost.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a practical convertible refrigerator wagon having removable ice receptacles and provided with a conveniently arranged salt box,

and it is thought that the many advantages of our improved arrangement will be readily appreciated by those familiar with such matters.

What we claim is 1. In a wagon, the combination with a body having a floor, of vertical posts forming part of the structure thereof and located at each side of the body, a horizontal rail supported by said posts on the inside of said' said rails, and may be moved longitudinally of said body. V

2. In a wagon, the combination with a body, of vertical posts forming part of the structure thereof, a horizontal rail supported by said posts ontheinside of. said body at each side thereof, receptacles adapted to fitwithin said body, said receptacles having ribs on their sides adapted to engage and slide upon said rails, the upper face of said rails having depressions with curved ends formed therein,. and the-bottom face of each 7 of said ribs having acentrally located downwardly extending curved portion, adapted to seat within such depressions, and to ride out of the same under the influence of a horizontally acting force, whereby said receptacles are yieldingly held in definite position relative to said rails.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. RAUM. JOHN J. RAUM. Witnesses:

GEO; T. REED, J. S. BARNES;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing, the Commissioner of Patents- Washington; I): 02 

